Saving Face

CHAPTER 8

Cultural Agility

LET’S RECALL the Chinese saying “Don’t be a frog living at the bottom of a well.” The trapped frog has a very narrow view of the world. Only by leaping out of the well can he enjoy a fuller perspective.

The principles of saving face to preserve dignity and build trust are complicated enough within environments that we’re accustomed to, where we speak the same language, have the same kind of life experiences, and have the same kind of expectations. But when you add cross-cultural issues—different languages, different upbringings, and diverse cultures—it becomes that much more of a challenge to apply the skills we’ve developed to preserve and save face. After all, how can you prevent someone from being humiliated if ...